WhataNut FMA PowerLab8 1000W charger

[SunnyHouTX]

Amazing... pulling 46.5 Amps from the fleaBay power supply at full voltage doing a 40A recharge from storage (3.8V) on two 5000mAH 3S packs. Packs hooked up in parallel/daisy-chained. Took less than 13 minutes, with a total of 7311mAH stuffed back into both packs in that time frame. EC5 connectors between the charger and the power supply were at 95*F and same for the stacked bananas going to the batteries from the charger. Should be fixed with the new ones I plan on making soon.

[snellemin]

You can see your 1.1s allready heh.

[SunnyHouTX]

Oh yes! gonna be interesting.

[MindThoughts]

Very very nice :)

Can anybody tell me if this charger can measure the internal resistance of the cells like my friends iCharger. I like the PowerLab8 more but would really like that feature as well. Just want to know before I hit the "BUY" button.

[MindThoughts]

Yes :)

Originally Posted by BIG-block

Can anybody tell me if this charger can measure the internal resistance of the cells like my friends iCharger. I like the PowerLab8 more but would really like that feature as well. Just want to know before I hit the "BUY" button.

[snellemin]

Yes it does.

Sweet. Thanks gents. I will have one on order within couple of days. Now I have to get a PSU for this beast. I don't think there is a cheap way out of that one if I want to take the full advantage of the chargers ability. Found a PSU from Hyperion that looks the goods but really pricey. Was also thinking of getting two server PSUs like what certain company sells.(You know the one. The one that says they will post graphs and never do) Still even with them I wont be able to take the charger to it's full ability. If anyone knows of anything that can power this charger to it's full potential please let me know.

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by BIG-block

Sweet. Thanks gents. I will have one on order within couple of days. Now I have to get a PSU for this beast. I don't think there is a cheap way out of that one if I want to take the full advantage of the chargers ability. Found a PSU from Hyperion that looks the goods but really pricey. Was also thinking of getting two server PSUs like what certain company sells.(You know the one. The one that says they will post graphs and never do) Still even with them I wont be able to take the charger to it's full ability. If anyone knows of anything that can power this charger to it's full potential please let me know.

http://www.fastelectrics.net/Maas-SPS-9400.php

http://www.nitrorcthunder.com/Power%20supply.htm

https://www.k1cra.com/catalog/produc...productID=2798

Sorry Jerry but I can't see anything there that can run this charger to it's full potential. I need something 24-32v and also around 60A current ratting but that depends on the voltage.
I think I might go with Mean Well SE-1500-24 1500W 24V 62.5A Power Supply. Not cheap at $350 +del. but I don't want anything less than that. I see no point in getting a such a kick ass charger and limiting it with a sub-par PSU.

I have also found a Hyperion unit that is rated @ 2000W but I don't get how with it being ratted at 30V and 60A output. Not sure but at $500 it doesn't exactly scream "Buy me".
So far I think the Mean Well PSU is the way to go. I have only heard good things about them so I don't mind spending a little extra.

[JERRY2KONE]

This one looks interesting enough for a few reasons. It is an enclosed unit designed for medical use, which makes me believe that it will be built very well due to the strict standards required by Hospitals and other medical establihsments for running sensitive life support systems. It has a max current of 53amps, but they do have higer rated amps as well. But for the price range of around $400 this was the best one that I have seen so far. It has an input voltage of 85 to 264volts, which was one of my considerations due to the fact that we keep moving back and forth from countries that have 120volts, and 240volts AC for public power supply systems. It might just be another one to consider. Still looking.

http://www.trcelectronics.com/Cosel/pba600f-12.shtml

This one is rated up to 88amps/1000watts, but the price is nearly doubled at just over $700.

http://www.trcelectronics.com/Cosel/pba1000f-12.shtml

This one is also rated upwards of 80amps, but sells for around $450. But it is strictly 120volt input.

http://www.12volt-travel.com/80-amp-...ly-p-4821.html

Not sure what the price is on this one, but it has a 720watt output and variable input.

http://www.acopian.com/single-s-low-m.html

There are a few in this store that look like they would be able to handle the load, and the prices are much better.

http://www.wearecb.com/store/12-volt...y-c-31_77.html

What charger are you using Jerry? Most chargers these days can take more than 12V and all the big power chargers need at least 24V. The PowerLab8 will not be able to charge at much more than 500W with only a 12V input regardless of the current that that the PSU can supply. In fact the PowerLab8 can handle up to 32V.

For you if you have a high end charger you are better off getting something like this PSU. CLICK HERE Mean Well have a pretty solid reputation from what I can gather reading the net. Also the unit in the link is switchable between 120V and 240V AC so you should be able to take it anywhere around the world.

I am leaning towards this unit. CLICK HERE. It should be a pretty close match for the PowerLab8. The only thing about it is that it isn't meant to operate below 180V AC so it wont be much use to you guys in US. For me it will be perfect.

[JERRY2KONE]

Hey thanks for the advice sharing. My plan is to get my hands on one of the PowerLab8 model chargers, so the perfect power supply for that is what I am interested in. I have just been going through all of the PSU supply networks trying to find the best PSU for the best price range. Its going to be a few months before I can afford to start getting my Lipos and charging system together. Money is just too tight after our move, so I have to be patient for a while longer. I am keeping my eyes open and absorbing all the info I can to make sure I take the best route when the time comes. Thanks and good luck with your purchases to.

[BrianG]

<rant>

Charger requirements are getting pretty stupid IMO.

For ~400w and less chargers, I can understand (but don't necessarily agree) why they require a 12v supply so that they can be used off a 12v car battery in the field.

For the 500w+ chargers that accept 12v or ~24v; you can't get the full capability at 12v or in the field off your car anyway, so you are forced to get a high price 24v+ supply.

But honestly, how much would it really cost to add in a switching PS that accepts either 12v DC or 120/240v AC? Circuit-wise, it's not all that complex; after all, all of these chargers use a switching PS internally already to turn that 12v into whatever voltage the battery needs. So, put the necessary supply in these things and charge extra. The result is safer; Joe Six-Pack, who doesn't know a resistor from a capacitor, won't be forced to fork over big $$$ for a big supply, or attempt to cobble something together, possibly unsafe, like certain companies. Yeah, the charger will be physically larger, but not really once you factor in the external PS. And all chargers could still have direct 12v DC input for field use (reduced output for the bigger chargers).

And while on the subject, why is the 12v input limited to 40-50A? You can't tell me they don't make FETs capable of switching more than that (look inside any ESC)? Maybe they can't wind their internal transformer with wires that'll handle it? Nope. Look at any really high power car audio amp; some of those transformers can handle well over 100A. Maybe it's so the dummies won't drain their car batteries in the field? I don't buy that either because even at 40A limit, a typical car battery (especially when not brand new) will be drained in less than an hour anyway.

I say make all chargers accept 12v DC (with no output limitation) AND 120/240vAC input. There is NO legitimate reason not to.

</rant>

[snellemin]

That be a nice highend charger there Brian. But sales would be lower and the company won't survive with low volume sales. Even more peeps would go with the cheaper chargers. But I guess the company could do both the current Powerlab 8 and a more expensive version with all the bells and whistles. I can see them hitting the industrial market as well with that type of charger.